Priority for improving basic facilities: MLA

‘‘The plight of women to fetch potable water from distant places and their long wait before water taps on the wayside in the remote areas of Adoor are scenes that moved me during the election campaign. Reaching drinking water to the nook and cranny of the constituency, ensuring a proper rural road network, and strengthening the agriculture sector will be the priorities in my development agenda for the constituency in the next five years,'' Adoor MLA, Chittayam Gopakumar, has said.

Briefing his development agenda for the constituency to The Hindu, the MLA said development of the Adoor and Pandalam towns in a planned manner, setting up of a self-contained base camp for Sabarimala pilgrims at Pandalam, a public stadium at Adoor, total electrification of the constituency in a time-bound manner, and extending free healthcare to all were the other important schemes in mind for implementation in the next five years.

Base camp

Mr. Gopakumar said scores of pilgrim visit the palace town of Pandalam to worship the Thiruvabharanam during the annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival. But, the pilgrims were put to much hardship due to lack of basic facilities at Pandalam.

The MLA said he would seek immediate intervention of the government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for preparing a comprehensive master plan for development of Pandalam and its implementation in a time-bound manner.

He stressed the need to promote pilgrim tourism at the Valiyakoickal Sastha Temple and the adjoining Srambickal Palace at Pandalam.

Town development

Mr. Gopakumar said he would strive for a well-planned development of two major towns of Pandalam and Adoor in association with the respective local self-government institutions and the general public.

High mast lights would be installed in Pandalam and Adoor towns soon. Widening of the bridges on the MC Road in Pandalam and Adoor towns would be another important thing to be done in the next five years, he said.

The total electrification of the constituency, constructing of a modern shopping complex-cum-market at Parakode near Adoor in association with the civic body, development of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation depot at Adoor and improving the healthcare facility at the Adoor General Hospital as well as various other healthcare centres in the constituency would be carried out in the next five years.

Public stadium

The MLA said he would explore the possibility of setting up a public stadium at Adoor in association with the municipality, Kerala Sports Council, and the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.

Improvement of the panchayat stadium at Kodumon was another scheme to be taken up in the next five years, he said.

Mr Gopakumar said he would explore the possibility of setting up a latex-based industry at Kodumon or Adoor. He said launching cultivation in fallow lands would be promoted.

A group of farmers had come forward for cultivating Basmati rice in Pandalam and surrounding areas. He said Basmati cultivation had proved a success in and around Pandalam seven years ago, adding that he would extend active support to relaunch the scheme.

The MLA said he would strive for materialising a memorial to cine personalities Adoor Bhasi, Adoor Bhavani, and Adoor Pankajom.

Similarly, the development of Veluthampi Dalawa memorial would also be another important project to be taken up during the next five years, he said.